In 1948, he placed second in the Border Olympics shot put competition, a track-and-field event held in Laredo in which Southwest Conference teams also participated.

Although he was named a starter as a rookie at right tackle, at the end of the season he opted to sign with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

On May 8, 1954, while he was in the process of asking for reinstatement into the National Football League,[3] The Bears traded him to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for defensive end Larry Brink.

In the 1955 NFL Championship Game, he was moved to center to replace Leon McLaughlin who was sick with mumps.

On August 31, 1958, after two seasons of playing at left tackle, he was traded to the Chicago Cardinals in exchange for a draft choice.